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Rhinoplasty for Medical Reasons Vs. for Cosmetic Reasons

asked 1 year ago by Cazz in Sydney
Latest answer by Robert L. Kraft, MD
Question viewed 463 times
Tags: broken nose, comparison, technique

I'm having surgery for medical reasons as I broke my nose in a fight and it affects my breathing, and was wondering if the surgeon would do anything different because it is for medical reasons not cosmetic? Lots of answers on here are for altering noses for beauty, but only a few for medical reasons (that I've found) Is there a difference? Besides what actually happens in the nose.

14 answers to Rhinoplasty for Medical Reasons Vs. for Cosmetic Reasons

Rhinoplasty for the broken nose.

Rhinoplasty for the broken nose is mainly to straighten the nose and open the airway which is done by most experienced surgeons on cosmetic noses as well.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Medical rhinoplasty

What you are referring to are two non-cosmetic procedures: reconstructive rhinoplasty and septoplasty/sub mucous resection. The second procedure addresses a deviated septum or other obstructive condition inside the nose. The former would involve delayed treatment of a nasal fracture or other trauma. The motivations for these operations differ from the cosmetic rhinoplasty as do the end goals, which are functional over cosmetic. Insurance companies have strict standards now for... more

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Trauma vs cosmetic

The surgical repair for nasal airway obstruction is most often only septal work that is not seen on the outside of the nose. Unless the whole nose shifts to one side then it should appear more mid line. What will be most noticeable is an improvement in your ability to breathe.

Rodger Wade Pielet, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Functional rhinoplasty

Anytime rhinoplasty for cosmetic purposes is performed, the functional components of the nose should be improved or at least respected and preserved. Improving nasal function after nasal trauma is paramount and should go hand in hand with improving cosmesis. Seek an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon for both aspects.

Etai Funk, MD
Houston Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.funkfacialplastics.com

Rhinoplasty

Ideally a board certified plastic surgeon (who performs cosmetic surgery) would reset your nasal bones (if they are displaced), while a board certified Ear Nose and Throat surgeon (who can work on your nasal passage) would help your cosmetic surgeon by making you breath better. Plastic surgeons are more inclined towards making noses beautiful at the expense of some functional compromise, while ENT surgeons are more functional in their approach. There are plastic surgeons who... more

Ayman Hakki, MD
Washington Plastic Surgeon

Functional vs. Aesthetic Rhinoplasty

This is a fantastic question! Yes, there is a difference. On one hand, functional rhinoplasty improves nasal breathing versus cosmetic which only addresses the aesthetic aspects. You can have both address, one, or both depending on the areas which you feel need to be addressed.

Richard Ellenbogen, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty - medical vs cosmetic

Hi Cazz. There is a difference between functional and cosmetic nasal surgery (rhinoplasty), although similar techniques are used for both. When nasal surgery is performed for breathing difficulty or deformity, it is referred to as functional or reconstructive surgery. In the US, health insurance usually covers functional surgery for breathing issues, and may cover reconstructive surgery if the cause is medical or the injury is recent. Surgical maneuvers to fine-tune the nasal appearance in... more

James M. Pearson, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty fo Functional and Cosmetic Indications

I'm sure your surgeon will make cosmetic and functional changes to meet your individual needs and improve your nose during your rhinoplasty surgery.

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty to correct breathing after nasal fracture

The overall approach to the nose in either a functional or cosmetic case is similar. If you only want the breathing to improve then straightening out the deviation of the nose and septum should help. Depending on your anatomy structural gratts (spreader graft, alar batten graft) may also help with both of these issues.

Thomas A Lamperti, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Surgery for breathing

If your only concern is breathing and you are happy with the way your nose looks then you don't need a rhinoplasty and it is considered a functional (or medical) vs. a cosmetic procedure.

Sam Naficy, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Medical Rhinoplasty vs Cosmetic Rhinoplasty

You plastic and cosmetic surgeon will need you to tell him/her that you want to cosmetically improve the look of your nose during the Rhinoplasty or this would not be addressed. Fixing the breathing is completely separate and different than making the nose more attractive. If you don't speak up, it won't automatically be done. All aspects, goals, plans, risks, benefits of every surgical procedure should be discussed with the patient by the surgeon. If... more

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty for Breathing different for Cosmetic Reasons

If it is just for breathing then you would straighten the nose and the septum and not really change the way it looks otherwise. The rhinoplasty is strictly for straightening and improving the airway. So they are totally different in many ways. To change the way it looks, you can then do more things to it after you have paid attention to the most important part of straightening. You can change it in many ways to fit your desires.But the cosmetic part of it technically is not covered by... more

Philip Young, MD
Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty for function vs cosmetic

A rhinoplasty can improve the external appearance of your nose and can also, when combined with a septoplasty, improve the function (breathing) of your nose. These elements are usually performed simultaneously and the functional portion can be covered by your insurance. Consult your health insurance company for more information and a board certified plastic surgeon. Best wishes, Dr.Bruno

William Bruno, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Medical vs. Cosmetic rhinoplasty

Repairing a nose altered by trauma as well as for cosmetic reasons involves many of the same basic concepts of reconstruction. However, most, if not all insurance carriers will not pay for changing your nose just because you don't like the way it looks.